Seven people have been arrested and more than $125,000 worth of stolen goods seized as police have disrupted an alleged retail theft syndicate in St Albans.
The arrests come as retail thefts across the state hit record highs, with the crime rising by almost 40 per cent in the last year alone.
The most common item stolen from retail stores is alcohol, with organised groups of shop stealers working together to steal goods and on-sell them for a profit.
It will be alleged this syndicate stole more than $320,000 worth of alcohol, beauty and health products from major retailers across Melbourne this year.
The thieves then allegedly on-sold the stolen goods to both business and individual receivers in the St Albans area.
One alleged receiver - a bottle shop owner - was arrested during a search warrant on Main Road on Wednesday 25 June.
Detectives from the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad located more than $100,000 worth of allegedly stolen alcohol including whiskey and spirits, illegally imported tobacco, cigarettes and vapes, as well as a baton.
The seizure was so large police had to hire a van to transport the allegedly stolen goods.
The 32-year-old owner, from St Albans, was charged with handling stolen goods, negligently dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime and possessing a prohibited weapon.
He was bailed to appear before Sunshine Magistrates' Court on 12 September.
The warrant yesterday follows the arrest of five alleged thieves and the seizure of $25,000 worth of allegedly stolen beauty products this month.
Those arrested include:
• A 45-year-old man, of no fixed address, who allegedly stole more than $112,000 worth of goods. He was charged with 32 offences including 18 counts of shop theft, six counts of handling stolen goods, three counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime and theft of motor vehicle. He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a later date.
• A 24-year-old St Albans man who allegedly stole more than $66,000 worth of goods. He was charged with 20 offences including 14 counts of shop thefts, five counts of handling stolen goods and theft of a motor vehicle. He was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 10 July.
• A 39-year-old St Albans man who allegedly stole more than $80,000 worth of goods. He was charged with 27 offences including 15 counts of shop theft, nine counts of attempted shop theft, possessing heroin and dealing with the proceeds of crime. He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 3 July.
• A 29-year-old St Albans man who allegedly stole more than $61,000 worth of goods was charged with 12 offences including nine counts of shop theft, handling stolen goods and committing an indictable offence while on bail. He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 1 July.
• A 34-year-old man, of no fixed address, who allegedly stole more than $3,400 worth of goods. He was charged with 11 offences including shop theft, handling stolen goods, dealing with the proceeds of crime, possessing methylamphetamine. He was remanded to appear before Geelong Magistrates' Court on 4 July.
Another man, aged 22 from St Albans, was charged with possessing heroin, possessing methylamphetamine, dealing with the proceeds of crime and possessing a false document.
He was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 10 October.
It will take investigators a number of days to count the allegedly stolen alcohol seized on Wednesday.
Once counted, police will aim to return the goods, some of which are sold exclusively by certain retailers, back to the rightful businesses.
Victoria Police will continue to work closely with retailers to target organised syndicates and hold them to account.
Quotes attributable to North West Metro Regional Crime Squad Acting Detective Sergeant Jethro Carbines:
"Organised retail syndicates aren't stealing to put food on the table - it is purely profit driven.
"A lot of the time thieves are using the profits to purchase illegal drugs which further fuels the illicit drug trade.
"These arrests are a timely reminder for organised syndicates that while you might get away with large thefts in the moment, it won't be long until police are knocking on your door."
